Patagonia NZ

Your cold-weather layering system consists of a baselayer, a midlayer and a shell. The baselayer wicks sweat away from your body to keep you comfortable. The midlayer traps heat to keep you warm. And the shell protects you from the elements. Combined, these three layers help you stay warm, dry and comfortable.

Baselayers are the foundation of your layering system. They are your sweat-wicking layer for next-to-skin comfort. By wicking moisture away from your body, they help prevent the fabric from getting soaked with sweat, which can make you cold when you stop moving. The best baselayers are the ones that go unnoticed, sit comfortably against your skin, and help keep you dry and comfortable during a wide range of activities and conditions.

We have two different styles of Capilene®️ baselayers to choose from. Our lightest option is Capilene®️ Midweight. It is versatile and fast-drying for high-exertion activities. We also have Capilene®️ Thermal Weight. Its lofted, grid fabric provides a step up in warmth, while still offering excellent breathability and odor control.

To choose the best baselayer, it’s important to understand how you’ll be using it. For high- exertion activities like trail running in mild temperatures, Capilene®️ Midweight is a good choice. For cooler conditions, Capilene®️ Thermal Weight makes sense. Remember, you’ll often be using a baselayer along with a midlayer, so it's important to factor in the warmth of your midlayer to determine what kind of baselayer you need for your cold-weather kit.

Midlayers help you stay warm. They trap your body’s heat as you move, but they’re also designed to allow breathability. As the name suggests, you wear your midlayer between your baselayer and your shell. In fair weather conditions, you can often get away with just a midlayer as the outermost layer of your cold-weather kit.

We have two different categories of midlayers, technical fleece and insulated products. We’ll start with technical fleece. Our Regulator®️ Technical fleece, as defined by R1 and R2 in product names, has a versatile, highly breathable knit fabric designed to keep you warm during high-exertion activities in cold weather. They’re stretchy, they’re comfortable and they’re designed to handle a wide range of conditions.

Then we have our insulated midlayers. Within this category we have down, synthetic and active insulation. Down insulation is made from duck and goose feathers, providing an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. Down is highly compressible and lightweight, making it a great choice for cold, dry conditions when weight and space are at a premium. Synthetic insulation is the alternative to down and is the best midlayer for wetter conditions. It’s also lightweight and packable, but unlike down, it keeps you warm even when wet. Our final option is active insulation. These layers have some stretch and exceptional breathability, and they can help moderate your temperature as you move. Active insulation, led by our Nano-Air®️ products, has become the go-to midlayer for mountain athletes during high-output activities in cold weather.

To choose the midlayer you need, think about where and how you’ll be using it. The kinds of sports and activities you’re performing and the climate where you live are important considerations when selecting a midlayer. The final consideration is the silhouette. We have jackets, vests, half-zips and more to help you dial in the exact system you need.